Intel’s Foundry Division to Produce SoCs for Panasonic.

Intel Corp.’s Custom Foundry division on Monday announced that it has entered into a manufacturing agreement with Panasonic Corporation's System LSI Business Division. Intel's custom foundry business will manufacture future Panasonic system-on-chips (SoCs) using Intel's 14nm low-power manufacturing process.

Panasonic's next-generation SoCs will target audio visual-based equipment markets (TVs, Blu-ray players, media players, etc.), and will enable higher levels of performance, power and viewing experience for consumers. Intel's 14nm low-power process technology, which includes the second generation of tri-gate transistors, is optimized for low-power applications. This will enable Panasonic's SoCs to achieve high levels of performance and functionality at lower power levels than was possible with planar transistors.

"Intel's 14nm Tri-Gate process technology is very important to develop the next- generation SoCs," said Yoshifumi Okamoto, director of Panasonic SLSI business division. "We will deliver highly improved performance and power advantages with next-generation SoCs by leveraging Intel's 14nm Tri-Gate process technology through our collaboration."

At present it is unclear when Intel plans to start production of 14nm chips for Panasonic. So far the company has barely started manufacturing of its own 14nm products. Previously it was reported that Intel’s 14nm LP process technology for SoCs will be finalized and approved in the second half of this year.

In addition to Panasonic five other semiconductor companies have announced agreements with Intel's custom foundry business. These companies are Altera, Achronix Semiconductor, Tabula, Netronome and Microsemi.